Bighorn 100 - Georgia Jewel 100 2013

The Book-Ends, and What’s In Between
by John Brower

Book I – Bighorn 100

The decision was made shortly after realizing that there would be no Hardrock or Barkley in my future. What was I to do with myself? Travel to the outskirts of Northern Wyoming, that’s what!

I booked a ticket with my buddy David to fly into Denver on the Wednesday before the Friday start. We picked up a car, and took the trip north to Dayton, WY, where we checked into the hotel and awaited the coming day.

Following a weigh-in and pasta buffet on Thursday, I was ready for one final rest before the 11am start on Friday, which came much too slowly. I was ready to run, and experience the Bighorn Mountains!

Being from Jackson, MS, my exposure to the western mountain ranges is virtually none, muck less running in them, so this was going to be quite an experience.

The start was in the Snake River Canyon, where the temps at race time were already creeping into the 90’s. However, I seemed to be well-adjusted to the heat, having come from the jungle-like conditions of the south, where it had been 90’s plus humidity… which is pretty boo… but more on that part later.

The field took off fast, which seems to be par for the course these days in ultras. I still don’t know how some of these guys maintain this speed …and some of them didn’t, as I got word of several drops within the first 20 miles. I tried to run conservatively, and had no problem doing so, considering I was awe-struck with the beauty that surrounded me.

I go to the base of the climb up Bighorn Mountain (mile 30ish) with the memory of a steeeeeep downhill that had brought me there in no time… and I was all too aware that steep downhill was going to be a steep uphill at mile 70. Prepared with the thought, and with lots of fuel, I began my climb.

The climb up Bighorn Mountain is about 17 miles long. The grade isn’t all that steep, but you can certainly tell that you are going up. I was feeling great, staying present, and doing what I came there to do, which was finish the course. By the time I got to the aid station that marked the halfway point, it was 10pm, dark, and freaking cold!

The temp with the wind howling were in the high teens, and for this MS boy that is COLD. Especially when you consider that I had on my Salomon compression shorts, Patagonia quarter-zip top, and a Marmot shell… and a Buff to cover my dome… and that’s it. Some folks would assume that, well, that’s ok because now you can get your drop bag and get changed. But all that was in my drop bag was Red Bull and cookies. Oops.

After getting warm and eating tons of food for the next 40 minutes, I put on my Ipod, bundled up, and was ready to get down the mountain, and start my journey home. I got out the door, took a few steps, and came right back into the aid tent. I was freezing. The med guy suggested I make gradual steps towards getting colder, as opposed to just hitting it out the door, I said, “That sounds good, but why don’t you just give me that big wool blanket to take.” After a bit of banter, I had talked him in to it, so I wrapped the thing around me like I was a burrito, and took off! It was great! Nice and warm, and windproof!

I kept the blanket ‘til I got to the treeline, at which point I dropped it at an aid station, and continued my descent …until a huge elk tried to stall me out. I looked up, and this big bull was just standing in the trail, probably as perplexed at the situation as i was. After I got over the shock, I started yelling at him, and he finally moved out of the way and disappeared into the dark. And I continued into the dawn.

I got to the river bottom, where I consumed some pancakes that were awesome, and prepared for that steep climb I spoke of earlier. Honestly, it was a laugher, it was so steep. I was behind a few other guys, and we all were going so slow trying to get up this thing. I think we climbed around 2000 feet in a little less than 2 miles, and at mile 70 that’s no joke!

But the reward at the top was one I will never forget: the sunrise. I have never seen that color of blue in the sky, or that color of green on the earth as I did from atop that climb. I paused for more than a moment, and gave great thanks for being at that place, at that time. It truly was amazing.

I continued on back to the start, loving the trail, the views, and the food from the aid stations, which included potatoes that had been cooked in bacon fat. AMAZING. Soon the Snake River Canyon was in view, and I settled in to the finish.

Entering the Canyon with some difficulty resulting from my descending legs being shot, I was greeted with 90-plus temps once again. So I pressed on, trying my darndest to get to the finish line…and soon enough, I hung a left into Dayton park, and a right towards the finish line, and boom. I had finished the Bighorn 100.

This was an awesome experience, amplified by the fact that this was my first 100 out west, and first one with no pacer or crew. I did have one drop bag at the halfway point. Other than that, it was just me and the Lord, out there getting it done. And so We did.

Official Time: 28:00:47; 41st OA

Gearcheck:                                                                             
Salomon S Lab Compression Shorts
Patagonia Sleeveless Top – RC Race Team Edition
Patagonia Quarter zip Top – RC Race Team Edition
Marmot Gore-Tex Shell
Petzl MYO RXP Headlamp
Buff Head-piece
Swiftwick 7” Socks
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Hoka OneOne Stinson EVO Trail
Nathan Backpack
Camelbak Insulated Handheld
Huma Energy Gels
RedBull Blue Edition

Book II – The Summer

Running in the summer in Jackson is less than fun. It is Hot as crap, flat as a board, and just overall unenjoyable. Every run is a grind, none of them are “good runs”, and you feel like you’re gonna die any time you run. Given this, I was eating S-Caps by the handful, drinking gallons of Gatorade, and still barely surviving my runs.

Here is a picture of what I looked like a majority of the time post-run, with the caption from my wife:

Bev: “Oh my! are you o.k.?”
John: (silence)
Bev: “What do you need?”
John: (silence)
Bev: “Can I get you some water?”
John: (silence)
Bev: “Some ice?”
John: (silence)
Bev: “Anything?”
John: “…pickles…”

Book III – The Georgia Jewel

All the training & suffering through the summer proved to be well worth it. I had planned on this race soon after the finish of the Bighorn, just to see how I could hold up. After several big weeks of training leading up to the race date, I began my taper hungry, angry, tired …right where I needed to be.

The race is held in Dalton, GA, and has a start time of 5am. My wife and I got into Dalton on Friday before the race just in time to say hey to some buddies, and to pick up our packets. Then off to what would be the worst pre-race night of sleep I have ever had. I am still not convinced I slept any…between emptying my bladder, the AC unit in the room, and my heightened state of anticipation, maybe an hour, but probably not.

So up I was at 3:45am, and commenced with the pre-race breakfast of champions: pop tarts! We headed to the start line at about 4:30…in the rain.

At 5am, the shout of “go” was in the air, and we were off! Into the darkness we went, and up a big hill, and then onto a jeep road, and then onto the single track. The first part of the run is what is called the “rock garden”; however I have no idea why — it should just be called “lots of rocks for about 2-3 miles.”

Because of this, and the slickness of the terrain, I was pretty conservative from the get-go, settling in behind several runners, and utilizing their headlamps and their foot-falls to negotiate the section with no major problems. Soon the sun was coming up, but you could hardly tell …it was raining so dang hard!

When I say it rained, I mean it rained for 9.5 hours. Downpours. The trail was reduced to a running current of water. At one point, it got so dark due to the clouds and the rain that I debated putting my headlamp on!

The creek crossings were quickly becoming river crossings, but hey, it is what it is, and on I pressed. Honestly, after a while it was pretty fun! The trail didn’t really become too muddy, so it was just a bunch of water to splash around in.

Kind of like being a kid again! At one point, I found myself doing my best Ric Flair “WOOOOO!!!” out loud!

The course itself is a grinder, with no real flat parts…pretty much up and down all day, with rocks being the more popular surface underfoot. However, there were a few points of the course to mention. The first is John’s Mountain.

The climb itself is no real doozy, but there are these “steps” made out of rock, some about 3 feet high, that we had to go up and, since it was an out-and-back course, I knew I would be coming down.

The thing was that with all the rain, the steps were pretty slick, and hey, one good slip’n’fall was all it was going to take to send you off the mountain! And coming back, it would be in the dark! No worries though…at the top of the mountain was Mitch Pless! He took great care of me and the other runners with his aid station, and I was very thankful for the pizza on the return trip.

The other notable part of the course was right before (and right after) the halfway point aid station. I had heard about the powerline section, but to experience it in person was pretty impressive. I forgot how many there were, maybe 3 to 5, but the hills were just straight up. It was hilarious! At one point, when the leader passed me on his way back, I turned around, and the guy looked like a spider-monkey, using all fours to make his way safely up one of the hills!

I got to the halfway point, chowed down on a McDizzle’s hamburger, a slice of pizza, and headed back to Dalton. I was in 2nd place at the time, and by the looks of the guy in front, I was pretty sure that wasn’t gonna change…but I was going to give him a go. I got to the mile 60 aid station, and after eating some pbj, was informed that there was a detour, because the rain had caused one of the creeks we had crossed earlier in the day to become impassable. The reroute was all on the road, and would end up adding about 3 miles to an already-long course. No worries though…it is what it is.

I hit it up, made my way on some seriously back country roads, past some cows, and eventually got back to the Pinhoti Trail blazes. However, there was no aid. Due to the detour, the aid station was bypassed, which left me with no aid for about 18 miles. Thank goodness, though, there was a water dump. I made my way to the pitstop, ate my BonkBreaker bar, refilled my bottles, and began my way back up John’s Mountain, but this time in the dark.

Upon arrival, I informed Mitch that there was no aid out there, and that he may want to see if they could get some for the other participants. It took me a good bit of time to complete the section, and I knew that some of the others would benefit greatly from someone being out there with something to eat and drink. I think this ended up happening at some point, thank goodness.

After some soup and pizza, I continued to try and track down 1st place. At the 20-mile to go aid station, I asked the volunteers if he had gotten anything to eat, and they informed me that he was blowing and going, and had hardly stopped at all. At this point, I really only had one hope, and that was that he would run out of fuel. I consumed one final calorie load of pizza, soup, and grilled cheese, and continued my pursuit.

At this point in the race, I could tell that I was breaking down. I was getting tired and fatigued, and my calves were really starting to ache. I could feel the stress of the run on my right achilles pretty well. I had to play this as best as I could, and I decided that I would work hard until the final aid station with 10 miles to go, and then hit the gas pedal with all I had, and maybe the 1st place guy would crack.

When I got to the last aid station, I was ready to lay it all out. I asked the aid volunteer how long ago the 1st guy had come through there, and he told me. And at that point, I knew that the rest of the race was about me doing my best, and finishing strong. 1st was out of the picture.

So off I went, as hard as I could go, running the climbs that I would have normally walked, hitting the flats as fast as I could, and taking on the downhills. Soon enough, I was at the last water dump, and I quickly refilled my handheld and headed off through the rocky section, minding my step, but feeling the strain in my achilles …man I was really hoping it wouldn’t snap…

I got to the service road that marked two miles to go, and the moon began pushing me even faster! That’s right, it was so bright that it was making me think the 3rd place person was right on my tail! Well I allowed this trick of nature to propel me to the top of the final downhill, and down the road I went…and took a right, and boom. The Georgia Jewel was over.

This was an awesome race, and a great way to bring the summer to an end. All the miles logged in the heat of Jackson for the past months paid off. While I had hoped to catch some scenic views, the rain gave me the chance to experience a 100 miler in a way that was pretty unique. I went for this one solo once again, and I am really starting to enjoy the experience.

But I would be remiss not to congratulate my wife, Beverly, on her 2nd overall performance in the 50 miler. She did a great job, and has been working hard this summer as well…I can’t wait to see how she does next!

Official Time: 24:16:38; 2nd OA

Gearcheck:
Salomon S Lab Compression Shorts
Patagonia Sleeveless Top – RC Race Team Edition
Buff Head-piece Petzl MYO RXP Headlamp
Swiftwick 7” Socks
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Hoka OneOne Stinson EVO Trail
Nathan Backpack
Camelbak Insulated Handheld
Huma Energy Gels BonkBreaker PBJ
Red Bull Blue Edition

And that’s that. Or is it? It seem that Ultrasignup.com has me listed for a few more runs this year. All things considered, I think my “racing” season is over for the year, but I’m sure I will be out there at some point enjoying the run.

VAMOS

SCAR 2013

What can you say about such an experience? I am finding the words to be almost impossible… it is difficult to capture the sights and the feelings of such a run.

This was the most pure run I have done, probably in my lifetime up to now; pure in the sense that there were no interruptions of other people racing, or aid stations, or clocks, or course markings, or expectations… just a trail that has been there for 90+ years, traversed by a countless number of people, marked with simple white blazes that might as well be birch… nowhere else to go but to follow the well-worn path, and the beauty that it entails.

As we went I couldn’t help but be reminded of those I had known of that had a history with the Appalachian Trail, from thru-hikers, to section hikers, to other running buddies that had shared this experience, and to think that their feet had traversed exactly where mine were… in this we shared a wonderful experience without even being together, and I took great joy in knowing that we were sharing in this experience, albeit at differing times in our lives, but we all were there, climbing, descending, suffering.

The tale will stay with me forever, and the experience will soon be replicated, and completed in one haul… but for this write up, I will share the highlights of the trip, and let the pictures (click here) and the imagination fill in the holes… until you decide that it’s time to find out the real story on your own, and take on the Smokies Challenge Adventure Run (SCAR) for yourselves.

o    The total length of the SCAR is about 72 miles, with about 18,000 feet of climbing.

o    While the section of the AT can be run in either direction, we chose the more traditional route, being south to north, or Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap, with a refueling check-in at Newfound Gap (mile 40ish).

·         We started from the far side of Fontana Dam at about 9:30am on Saturday.

·         My buddies and I made it to Newfound gap in about 13h30m, at which point the fatigue and the cold caused my friends to throw in the towel, and call it a day. I chose to do the same, given that it would be a long, cold night out there for the second half by my lonesome…and God-forbid that I break an ankle and have to hike it on one paw for 20+ miles.

·         After a restless few hours, I got up, and upon a bit of encouragement and cooperation, I put on my crusty clothes from the day before (except I did have a change of socks), I had my buddies drive me to Davenport Gap, where I proceeded to run back to Newfound Gap solo in 7h30m. This route added about 2000 ft. of vertical to the experience, so final stats for the two-day haul were about 72 miles with about 20,000 ft of elevation gain.

·         While this gave me the satisfaction of completing the task, I certainly have unfinished business with the SCAR. I am planning a return trip this fall, this time solo, with experience in tow.

·         A HUGE thanks to Jim and Cap’n Harold for the aid and the Airstream (1989 beauty!), to Ed and Greg for the company, to my wife for the encouragement, and to God for the ability, the courage and the beauty of creation.

This is a run that I highly recommend to everyone out there… the Smokies are freaking amazing, and God reveals himself on every inch of the journey. VAMOS!!!

Gear used:
Salomon Running Pack (the one I won at Stumpjump 50k a looong time ago)
Salomon EXO Shorts
Patagonia SS Top (Thanks R/C)
Day one socks – Balega wool
Day two socks – Smartwool
Hoka Stinson Evo shoes
Huma Gel
Oreos, Nutter Butters, and Chips Ahoy cookies
Katahdin water filter pump (freaking genius)
Camelbak Insulated bottles

Lake Martin 50/ Bear Blaster 50k+ 2013

Lake Martin 50 Miler

The Lake Martin 50 is a new race in Alabama put on by David Tosch and his wife. I am familiar with them from doing the 12-hour Run for Kids Challenge the past few years, and I knew that this event would be top notch, even though it was a first year. The course is advertised as two 25-mile loops, with a total elevation gain of about 5300 ft.

According to David, the course was not too difficult, but that those who had not run in the area may be surprised by the hills. Seeing that the location of the race is south of Sylacauga, home of the Pinhoti 100, I figured the trail would be similar, meaning consistent up-n-down the whole time… and my hunch was right!

Following a good night’s rest in the local state park, I was up at 4:45 eating my usual pre-race breakfast (pop tarts and off-brand mountain dew), and headed to the start. It was good to see those in attendance, as there were a few faces I had not seen in a while. That is one thing I hope never changes about our sport… it is always good to catch up with others, and congratulate them on recent accomplishments. Soon enough the sky let through enough light for us to start, and, following a brief adieu, we were off!

The field spread out appropriately, and I found myself running with John Cobb in the lead. We chatted a bit and discussed upcoming races, and soon we found ourselves at the first aid station. Our pace wasn’t crushing the spirits, so we both were comfortable with the course thus far. John is one of those guys that can settle in to a pace and hold it indefinitely, so I knew he would be a contender all day. On one of the many steep downhills, John stopped to get some debris out of his shoe, and I continued to press down the hill… and continued to press.

I felt comfortable for the first bit, cruising on the course, opening up on the numerous downhills, and taking advantage of the good terrain to speed up the pace; however, after a quick look at the data on my Suunto Quest, I knew that what I was doing was not going to last, especially considering I was not fueling properly to sustain such an effort. I soon came through the first loop, on the heels of the second place guy running the 27-miler.

But did I slow down? Naaa… I was content to ride the wave until it crashed. I knew what was coming; I just wanted to see my reaction to it. And at around mile 30 it hit: the full-on bonk!

After being passed by John and the second place guy, I hobbled into the aid station, seeing stars and trails, and totally light-headed. The great thing was, I had been here before. I knew exactly what to do, and I knew that after a bit I would be fine… I just had to re-up and wait it out. I sat down at the aid station and ate a PBJ, some cookies, some electrolyte pills, drank a cup of coke, and drank some Heed.

After a bit, I got up and took some cookies and half a PBJ down the trail with me, as well as a half a cup of coke. Slowly but surely, the light-headedness dissipated, and I began to come back around. I started moving my feet faster, and soon felt the energy I needed return to me. I started running again, right on time. I pressed on down the trail, with slight illusions of making up the 20+ minutes that I had just lost.

The Suunto allowed me to stay on track in terms of miles left, and with each mile that ticked off I was closer to the finish. I hit the last aid station and knew I was home free, with just 7 miles left to go. Could I catch these guys? I was gonna try… but alas, too much time was between us. I crossed the tape in 3rd OA, with a time of 8:13:16.

I was more than pleased; I rode the wave, it crashed as I expected, but I took the time and recovered, and then progressed to the finish. No worries at all! I had created a wonderful frame of reference in my experience bank to fall back on, which is of the utmost importance for runners like me. I need that sort of experience, where the wheels fall off, but I took the time to put them back on, and it paid off well.

A big thanks again to David Tosch for putting on the race. His attention to detail and his willingness to set out a great course made all the difference. I am excited to participate next year in the inaugural running of the Lake Martin 100!

–

Bear Blaster 50k+                               

So my wife signed me up for this on the heels of the Lake Martin 50. I was going to the event to just casually run, not race… I figured that the Lake Martin 50 the week before would have my legs kinda tired, and certainly not in race shape. However, a few weeks before the event, the race director posted a picture of the trophy, a bronze bear head. I had to have it, and I was determined that, no matter how tired I was from the week before, I wanted that bear head!

My wife and I made the 8 hour drive to Augusta on Friday. The next morning, following “the usual” breakfast, it was time to run!

We went to the park in time to get our bibs (my wife had the flu the week before, so she was unable to run). The race director issued us a quick word, and following the starting pistol bang, we were off!

I really knew nothing of the trail, its conditions, nor its elevation profile, so I just took off with reckless abandon. I knew that my legs felt better than I thought they would, and I knew that I probably had a solid 50k in me. I set the pace early and did not let up. At the first aid station, I knew that there were two guys close behind, so I topped off my bottle and went. I stayed fueled properly the whole day, consuming one Huma gel every 40-45 minutes (if you hav’nt heard of Huma, google it! All-natural gel… awesome!).

As I glanced at my Quest again, I saw the speed that I was going, but really paid it no mind… I was determined to get that bear head! About a mile from the turn around, I was clicking off miles super-efficiently… maybe too efficiently… because I totally missed a turn. I would up at some highway junction, and after a brief moment to come out of the zone, I knew I was not where I needed to be.

I backtracked and found the CLEARLY MARKED turn to the right. I made it to the turn around and was anxious to see how much time I had lost, and how much I was leading by. From what I can tell I went about a mile off-course which left me up on 2nd by about .4 miles. I really got frustrated with myself for missing the markers, but I was on the sauce, and started laying down a pace that I felt was unsustainable, perhaps even for me, but especially for the guys behind me.

As I cruised into the last aid station, I topped the bottle off again, and hit it for the home stretch, counting down the miles, and praying for the help to sustain the pace. I didn’t know where they were behind me, but I knew they wanted to take my bear head… but I wasn’t gonna let ‘em!

I went through my 50k split at about 4:11, and just kept hammering… since the course was longer than a 50k and since I took a wrong turn, I really didn’t know how far I had to go to get the bear head. Soon enough, I got to the parking lot that led to the finish… the bear head was mine! I finished up 1st OA with a time of 4:48 for 36.5 miles.

Gotta give a shout out to the RD on a great event… small, intimate, and hilarious, from the logo to the trophy! And congrats to all the finishers…VAMOS!

Next up… SCAR!

Gear used:

Shoes: Hoka OneOne Stinson
Shirt: Patagonia Air Flow Tank
Shorts: Salomon Exo S-Lab
Socks: Swiftwick 7”
Hat: Outdoor Research
Handheld: Camelbak Insulated
Nutrition: Huma Energy Gel

MS 50 2013

I love mud… and cold… and loops… and bogs… and I love Mississippi trail running! It was my pleasure to once again entertain myself for a few hours with the madness that is the Mississippi 50.

I have run this race several times, and only once has there not been mud… that type of mud that sucks your shoes off. This year was considered to be a “dry” year, but all that meant was that the mud was extra-tacky… the kind of mud that, after a few thousand feet have gone through it, turns into a bog, where shoes stay and feet go.

In fact, one guy did lose his shoe in one of the mudpits; he reached in and literally couldn’t find it, and was left with one shoe!

Despite all this mud, I do love this race, for its volunteers, and its race director, Dennis Bisnette. He and his crew do all they can to ensure that a good time is had by all. The course is well marked, and the aid is solid, including red beans and rice at the finish. And man, red beans and rice on a cold day is MONEY. The 50-mile course is set up as three 12.5ish mile loops, and two 6.2ish mile loops. The 50k race and the 20k race are run on the same loops, but with variations for their distances.

Following my breakfast of champions (Pop Tarts and Citrus Drop Extreme, which is off-brand Mountain Dew), I headed to the start line, and met up with some buddies. Following a few “good lucks” we were off into the morning twilight. It was cold, but usually as the day progresses, I tend to get warmer. However, given the cloud cover and the wind, I stayed pretty cold throughout the run.

I settled in to a pace with my buddy Ed Daly, who had just gotten back from a ski trip to Colorado. As we ran and chatted, I could tell that the fatigue of the past few high mileage weeks was working on me, and that I needed to back off the pace a bit for the rest of the time. There is an out-and-back section to the course, and as we came back on it, we were able to size up the competition for the day. I told Ed that today was his, and to take note of who he needed to get. We finished up loop one, and I let Ed go off to track down his destiny. I, on the other hand, focused on keeping a solid pace for the day, not sure where I would end up at the end, but knowing that I needed to run patiently… just another long run.

The next big loops were uneventful, other than the adventurous crossings of the by-now bogs. Man, that mud will make you tired after a while! I just focused on being comfortable and patient with myself. At the start of the first short loop (mile 37.5), I decided that I would give myself two hard miles, just to see if I saw either Ed or Eric Lee, who was now leading the race. I figured that although I was on tired legs, maybe the sight of them would inspire me… but after a good push, they were still nowhere in sight, so I settled back into my groove, and was content to do my thing to the end.

Coming to the clock for the final time, I felt great. Although my legs were tired for a good portion of the day, I didn’t give in to it, and maintained an even keel for the better of the last 37 miles. I finished the race in 7:39, good enough for 3rd place. Not too bad for a long run.

Congrats to my buddy Ed Daly, who stayed strong the whole time, and was unrelenting all the way to the finish, good enough for 2nd. Congrats to Eric Lee on the “W” also… great guy. If you haven’t heard of him, Google him; he finished up Nolan’s 14 last year. If you don’t know what Nolan’s 14 is, Google that, and then have your mind blown.

Up next is the Lake Martin 50 miler on March 23rd! VAMOS!!!!

Gear used:
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine
Socks: Swiftwick 7”
Shorts: Salomon Exo S-lab II
Shirt: Patagonia L/S
Head cover: Buff (I freaking love these things!)

24 Hours of HOSTELity

I wonder what time it is…

I wonder how far I have gone…

Where the crap am i???

These are just a few of the thoughts that I struggled with during the 24 hours of HOSTELity, all of which would be answered as soon as I crossed the finish line…but where would that finish line be?

The 24 hours of Hostelity is set up on a .65 mile loop trail around the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, GA. Each loop covers single-track and double-track, with about 110 feet of elevation gain per loop. Now this is a debatable point. Willie Syndram, the RD, advertises the loop at 100ft of climbing; however, I heard altimeter readings from 110 to 150 feet per loop… any way you cut it, that kind of climbing adds up over the course of a day. In and of itself, the overall elevation for the day is not too bad, but given that it is all packed into a 1k loop makes the climb and the descent seem pretty steep.

Despite the rain the week before, the course was in amazing condition. The RD had put out mulch on the wet spots, and the dry air allowed a few slick spots to hold up over the course of the event. I was prepared with numerous shoe options to combat the mud, including yaktraks and an old pair of New Balance snow running shoes (complete with screw-in spikes), but none were needed, as my Hoka One One Stinson EVO’s did the trick. Not only was the cushion much appreciated on the steep downhill, but the tread gripped nicely, allowing me to run with confidence on some of the slick areas.

Following a breakfast of champions (two pumpkin pie pop tarts and a big cup of coffee) and a short drive to the Hostel, the 9am start time came with much excitement, as the RD led us around the loop for the first time: across the back porch of the Hostel, past the chicken coop, on a line beside the road, down an embankment, up the switchbacks, past the trailer with wood, up a slight hill, onto the double track, down the huge embankment, up a steep embankment, right onto the gravel drive, and back past the back porch… and then repeat!

My goal for this run was to keep moving non-stop for all 24 hours. I was not concerned with place or distance, just time, and I knew that, no matter what, the race would end at 9am on Sunday, and all I had to do was to keep moving until then.

I started out conservatively, running the loop while slowing down quite a bit on the steeper climbing portions. Being from the deep south, I generally have to prime my climbing legs for courses with significant elevation, and leading up to this event, I neglected this part of my training… so I knew that I was going to have to take it kind of easy in order to sustain motion for the day.

I kept this strategy up throughout the course of the day until I began to feel the fatigue in my quads, at which point I developed a pattern of walking/running dictated by the terrain of the course. I kept this strategy in place for the remainder of the race, up until the sunrise, at which point I went for it… more on that in a few.

Considering the set-up for the race, I was able to see numerous runners multiple times, and it was neat to share encouragements with one another throughout the day. A wonderful bonus was the fact that my wife, Bev, was doing the 12-hour portion of the race, so as the day wore on, I would slow down and do a few laps with her…what an encouragement it was for me to have her support! She even stayed out and rooted me on into the night and on through daybreak!

The aid station was fully stocked throughout the day, allowing me to stay on top of my nutrition, and not go into the red zone on either energy or hydration levels. I began the run by GUing every 30-40 minutes, and kept this strategy for the first 7 hours, at which point I switched over to solid food… oreo cookies, pbj’s, cheeseburgers, pizza, soup… whatever my body was craving, I ate it! The volunteers were more than accommodating to my needs, and this really helped me keep moving. Their recommendations for food choices were brilliantly timed, as the soup really hit the spot at night to help warm my core. I stayed hydrated by drinking the Poweraid that was supplied, and supplemented coke, mountain dew, and coffee for quick bursts of energy. Nutritionally, I was dialed in, and this really allowed me to keep on moving towards that clock!

As Saturday turned into Saturday night, the temperature began to drop, and the frequency of seeing other runners dropped as well. There were several moments in the night that I wondered where everybody had gone, and then I would see a light bobbing through the forest, and I knew I wasn’t alone in my suffering. For this race, I didn’t wear a watch… why bother? The race wouldn’t end until 9am on Sunday, and they would tell me when that was. This allowed me to stay focused on the here-and-now of the experience, staying in tune to my body, and staying confident to pursue the goal.

I was acutely aware of the achiness in my legs on the climbs, and the pain in my quads on the sharp down hills. This was a pattern that I became very familiar with throughout the night: ache and pain, ache and pain, ache and pain… but I knew it was going to end, sometime. I just had to endure, and so I kept on going.

I don’t have any idea what time it was, but at some point, the RD came onto the course and tempted me with the sight of a 100-mile buckle. I don’t remember how the conversation went, but he and a few others said that if I would average 10-minute miles until the end, I might be able to make it. “Maybe next year… my goal is just to keep moving for 24 this year… I will come back more prepared for the climbing and get the buckle next year.” This was good for me. While the allurement of the buckle was pretty strong, I knew that was not my goal, and any pursuit of it this year could ruin my chances of going for all 24 hours. I kept my goal in mind, and pressed on, knowing that the buckle could wait.

About an hour before sunrise, creation began waking up. The chickens began to rustle in their coop, and were more chatty each time I passed them. The resident dog at the Hostel came out and dominated me, sprinting by me, then stopping and staring at me, waiting for me to catch up, and then sprinting by me again. I talked to the dog for a while, telling him “oh yea tough guy?! How long have you been out here? I’ve been goin’ all night, and you come out here and own me now? Punk!”

I had begun to really lose it at this point. I was talking to myself, to the dog, to the chickens, to the trail… I had even gone off the trail twice, both times right between the big green arrows telling me which way to go! I really, really needed the sun to come up to refresh my spirits and get me right again…

Soon, the sky began to turn that color, a light shade of rosy-pink that only the sun can make… and I knew the end was near. I came through the aid area, and was informed that I had two hours to go. At this point, I was in some real pain, but I knew it was time to go even deeper. I began to formulate a plan of attack for the last two hours. I wanted to go as hard as I could, and cross the finish line knowing I had poured out my all. I segmented up the course into speed walks on the climbs and running on the flats and down hills, even the huge one that was causing me so much pain.

I was ready to implement my plan, and so I did. I took off, determined to pour it out until it was over. Soon enough the sun was glowing on the horizon. With each loop the RD, my wife, the volunteers, and others gave me the encouragement I needed. The few that remained on the course were more than encouraging, as we all did our best to help one another onward with our words. As the time went by, my speed picked up, and the end was near. I journeyed deep into the pain cave, determined to conquer the demons and trample them underfoot. “One hour left!” No worries, just push it. “40 minutes!” Keep pushing… I had no idea how far I had gone, but I knew these were the fastest laps of the day. “30 minutes!” “22 minutes” Keep on… push it, faster! Two more laps! “16 minutes!” Almost there! Come on! VAMOS!

There it was: Sunday morning, 9am… the finish. I had achieved my goal of perpetual motion for 24 hours. And I was more than ready to sit down! My legs were in shock, and I was starving, having foregone food for the last two hours for the sake of speed. I went in to the Hostel for the first time, found a chair, sat down, and ate some amazing banana pancakes with syrup. Willie (the RD) informed me that I was the winner, and that is always a good feeling. My hard work had paid off with a “w”, but more importantly, I had really conquered some running demons out there that had been on me for a few months.

I had gotten in to a funk of being hard on myself, not allowing enjoyment of the sport due to goals that I would put on my performances. If I found myself failing at that goal, I was more apt to just quit, rather than be content with the love of the sport. This race allowed me to go for it in a way that I knew I could achieve. My goal was 24 hours… not miles, not a time, not a pace, not a finish position. And I did it, and in the process, I took another step towards learning to be content with my efforts, no matter what. I am not the fastest guy, and I am not the strongest guy, but I love to run, and I can suffer with the best of ‘em. ”Come what may, I want to run!”

Final Stats
Laps: 148
Distance: 96.2
Hours run: 24
Elevation gain: somewhere around 16,500 (I heard between 15,000 and 20,000)
Gear Used:
Shoes: Hoka OneOne Stinson EVO
Shorts: Salomon Exo S-Lab II
Shirts: Lots of ‘em!
Poles: Black Diamond Z-poles
Facial Hair: Moustache

Thanks again to all who made this race possible…your hard work was greatly appreciated! And Willie “Nature Boy” Syndram, you are a stud!